Abstract: Ampicillin is produced in a batch process by enzymatic acylation of 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) with the aid of phenylglycine derivative such as D-phenylglycine amide. High conversions of phenylglycine derivative may be achieved by having the total concentration in the reaction mixture of 6-APA and ampicillin greater than 250 mM and the molar ration of total quantity of phenylglycine derivative to total quantity of 6-APA less than 2.5. Higher yields of ampicillin may be achieved when the amount of dissolved 6-APA is kept low, e.g. below 300 mM.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing an (S)-2-amino-&ohgr;-oxoalkanoic acid derivative in which the corresponding aldehyde is converted into the corresponding acetal-protected aldehyde, the acetal-protected aldehyde is converted into the corresponding aminonitrile, the aminonitrile is converted into the corresponding amino acid amide, the amino acid amide is subjected to an enzymatic, enantioselective hydrolysis in which the (R)-enantiomer of the amino acid amide remains and the (S)-enantiomer is converted into the (S)-amino acid, and the (S)-amino acid is isolated. Preferably, the reaction mixture obtained after the conversion of the aminonitrile into the amino acid amide is treated with a benzaldehyde to form the Schiff base of the amino acid amide. The Schiff base is separated out and is converted into the free amino acid amide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an antibiotic, in particular cefalexin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cefaclor, cefradin, cefadroxil, cefotaxim and the like, wherein a beta-lactam core is acylated, the antibiotic is recovered from the reaction mixture, the remaining mother liquor is subjected to a hydrolysis reaction in which the antibiotic present in the mother liquor is decomposed into its initial compounds, in particular the beta-lactam core, and the acylation agent is hydrolized. The beta-lactam core can then be recovered virtually quantitatively or recycled to the acylation reaction. This is because it has been found that the solubility of the beta-lactam core is unexpectedly high at relatively high concentrations of acylation agent and antibiotic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of ampicillin in which 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) is subjected to an enzymatic acylation reaction with the aid of a phenylglycine derivative, with the total concentration of the 6-APA present in the reaction mixture, plus ampicillin, being greater than 250 mM, the concentration of 6-APA in solution being kept lower than 300 mM and the molar ratio of acylation agent to 6-APA which is employed being less than 2.5.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of neotame by successively

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing an (S)-2-amino-&ohgr;-oxoalkanoic acid derivative in which the corresponding aldehyde is converted into the corresponding acetal-protected aldehyde, the acetal-protected aldehyde is converted into the corresponding aminonitrile, the aminonitrile is converted into the corresponding amino acid amide, the amino acid amide is subjected to an enzymatic, enantioselective hydrolysis in which the (R)-enantiomer of the amino acid amide remains and the (S)-enantiomer is converted into the (S)-amino acid, and the (S)-amino acid is isolated. Preferably,the reaction mixture obtained after the conversion of the aminonitrile into the amino acid amide is treated with a benzaldehyde to form the Schiff base of the amino acid amide. The Schiff base is separated out and is converted into the free amino acid amide.

Abstract: Method for preparing a salt of aspartylphenylalanine methyl ester from N-protected aspartylphenylalanine methyl ester involving cleaving off the protective group by treatment with an acid, in the course of which, first of all, N-protected aspartylphenylalanine methyl ester is caused to react in an aqueous medium and in the presence of methanol at a temperature of from 0 to 80° C. with from 0.8 to 2 equivalents of acesulphamic acid for at least such a time that the conversion to the salt of aspartylphenylalanine methyl ester and acesulphamic acid has been completed to an adequate degree, and then the salt formed in the first step is isolated in precipitated form at a temperature of 30° C. or lower.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the esterification of an amino acid or peptide in which the amino acid or peptide is converted into the corresponding ester in the presence of a hydrosulphate have the general formula ROSO3H, where R represents an alkyl group, with the hydrosulphate being prepared, in the presence of the amino acid or peptide, from chlorosulphonic acid and an alcohol having the general formula ROH, where R has the same meaning as above. The chlorosulphonic acid to amino acid or peptide molar ratio preferably is between 0.8 and 2.0, in particular between 1.0 and 1.3. A primary alcohol, in particular methanol, is preferably used as alcohol. The amino acid used may be for example an &agr;-amino acid chosen from the group comprising p-hydroxyphenylglycine, phenylglycine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, proline and valine; L-alanyl-L-proline or an ester of L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine, for example, may be used as peptide.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing an (S)-2-amino-&ohgr;-oxoalkanoic acid derivative in which the corresponding aldehyde is converted into the corresponding acetal-protected aldehyde, the acetal-protected aldehyde is converted into the corresponding aminonitrile, the aminonitrile is converted into the corresponding amino acid amide, the amino acid amide is subjected to an enzymatic, enantioselective hydrolysis in which the (R)-enantiomer of the amino acid amide remains and the (S)-enantiomer is converted into the (S)-amino acid, and the (S)-amino acid is isolated. Preferably, the reaction mixture obtained after the conversion of the aminonitrile into the amino acid amide is treated with a benzaldehyde to form the Schiff base of the amino acid amide. The Schiff base is separated out and is converted into the free amino acid amide.

Abstract: Process for the recovery of ampicillin from a mixture containing ampicillin and 6-aminopenicillic acid (6-APA), in which a mixture of ampicillin and 6-APA, with a pH higher than 7, which apart from any solid ampicillin being present is homogeneous at a pH between 7 and 8.5, is subjected to a pH lowering till a pH lower than 8.2 is reached, and the solid substance present is recovered. The process is in particular suitable to be applied to the reaction mixture which is obtained after the enzymatic acylation reaction of 6-APA with a phenylglycidine derivative as acylation agent. Pure ampicillin can thus be recovered in a simple way.

Abstract: The disclosed process is for the recovery of cephalexin from a mixture containing cephalexin and 7-aminodesacetoxy cephalosporanic acid (7-ADCA), wherein a mixture of cephalexin and 7-ADCA, with a pH higher than 7, which apart from any solid cephalexin being present is homogeneous at a pH between 7 and 8.5, is subjected to a pH modification until a pH lower than 7.8 is reached, and the solid substance is recovered. The disclosed process is particularly suited for application to a reaction mixture obtained after the enzymatic acylation reaction of 7-ADCA with a phenylglycine derivative as an acylation agent. Pure cephalexin can thus be recovered in a simple manner.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a 1,5-benzothiazepine derivative, or a salt thereof, of formula 1 ##STR1## where R1 represents H, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group and R.sub.2 represents H or a halogen, in which process a propanoic acid derivative of formula 2 ##STR2## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are as defined above and R.sub.3 represents H or an alkyl group is subjected to an intramolecular cyclisation reaction in a non-halogenated solvent in the presence of a carboxylic acid. Preferably, R.sub.2 is H and R.sub.1 is OCH.sub.3. Trichloroacetic acid is preferably used as .alpha.-chlorinated acid. The benzothiazepine obtained on cyclisation can be subjected to an alkylation reaction and/or an acylation reaction to obtain known pharmaceutical products, in particular diltiazem.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing optically active methionine amide in high ee purities in which a mixture of D- and L-methionine amide or the Schiff bases thereof is at least partly converted, optionally in the presence of 0.5-4 equivalents of an aldehyde, relative to the amount of methionine amide, and water, in the presence of an organic solvent, using less than 1.2 equivalents of L- or D-mandelic acid, respectively, relative to the amount of D- or L-methionine amide, respectively, or the Schiff bases thereof, present in the mixture of D- and L-methionine amide or the Schiff bases thereof, into a salt of methionine amide and mandelic acid, a portion consisting substantially of one of the diastereoisomers of the salt is separated from the reaction mixture obtained, and the salt is converted into the optically active methionine. A high degree of optical purity is obtained.

Abstract: Process for preparing an a-amino acid having the general formula (1) of ##STR1## where R represents an aryl group or a substituted aryl, cycloalkyl or alkyl group, in which process glyoxylic acid, or a precursor or derivative thereof, is contacted in the presence of sulphamic acid with an unsaturated compound chosen from the group of aromatics, cycloalkenes and alkenes. By applying the process higher efficiencies are obtained.The acid obtained as reaction product can be esterified and amidated without prior isolation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of optically active amino acid amide. L-amino and D-amino acid amides are mixed in the presence of 0.5-4 equivalents of an aldehyde, relative to the quantity of amino acid amide, in the presence of a solvent and water. The mixture is converted in whole or in part by means of an optically active carboxylic acid into a salt of the amino acid amide and the carboxylic acid. A portion mainly consisting of one of the diastereoisomers of that salt is separated from the reaction mixture obtained. Instead of a mixture of L-amino and D-amino acid amides, it is also possible to use a mixture of the Schiff bases of an amino acid amide and an aldehyde, in which case it is not necessary to add extra aldehyde, and the required quantity of water amounts to at least 1 equivalent relative to the quantity of Schiff base. With this process, a high yield of optically active amino acid amide or the corresponding amino acid is rapidly obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of an .alpha.,.alpha.-disubstituted .alpha.-amino alcohol from the corresponding amide with the aid of sodium in the presence of an alcohol as solvent. The conversion of amino acid amide to amino alcohol proceeds virtually quantitatively. Moreover, the reduction of the amino acid amide to the corresponding amino alcohol proceeds with retention of optical activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of N-hydroxy-alpha-amino acids and the derivatives thereof by reacting a derivative of an alpha-amino acid with an aromatic aldehyde to form a Schiff base, oxidizing the Schiff base to an oxaziridine and converting the oxaziridine into the corresponding N-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid derivative and, if so desired, converting that derivative into the acid or a different derivative, in which an alpha-amino acid amide is used as starting material.

Abstract: Process for recovering .alpha.-aminoalcohols by extraction from aqueous solutions, in which process an aromatic aldehyde is added at elevated pH to an aqueous solution of an aminoalcohol in an at least equimolar amount in respect of the aminoalcohol, the resulting mixture is converted with formation of the Schiff base of the aldehyde and the aminoalcohol and the aqueous solution is subsequently extracted using a water-immiscible organic solvent, upon which the Schiff base in the resulting extract is hydrolized and the .alpha.-aminoalcohol or a salt thereof is recovered.

Abstract: The invention relates to new pure D- or L-N-hydroxy-alpha-amino acids and the derivatives thereof, including optically active N-hydroxy-phenylglycine amide, which has antibiotic and antitumor activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for racemizing an optically active N-benzylidene amino-acid amide, characterized in that a solution of the N-benzylidene amino-acid amide is mixed in a water-miscible organic solvent with at least 0.05 mole strong base per liter solution.The invention further relates to a process for preparing an L-amino acid by enzymatic separation of the corresponding DL-amino-acid amide with an enzyme preparation from Pseudomonas putida, in which process also uncoverted D-amino-acid amide is left behind in solution, characterized in that benzaldehyde is added to the solution, during which addition a precipitate of D-N-benzylidene amino-acid amide is being formed, this precipitate is subsequently, after being separated off, dissolved in an acetone-water mixture, 0.08-0.15 mole KOH/liter solution is subsequently added, the resulting solution is stirred for 1-20 hours at 20.degree.-60.degree. C.